The Iowa Senate has passed a bill designed to give school officials more authority to respond to bullying that occurs outside of school hours as well as on-line through Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites. Senator Rob Hogg, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says “off-campus” harassment has an impact on students inside the school building.
Governor Terry Branstad has supported expanding Iowa’s anti-bullying law for the past three years, but his fellow Republicans have objected to previous approaches, arguing parents have primary responsibility for their children outside of school hours. The bill that passed the Senate on a 43-to-seven vote would require that parents be notified if their child is involved in a bullying incident, unless the school official believes that notice might “subject the student to harm.”
The bill also calls for more training to help educators intervene when a child is being bullied. Senator Herman Quirmbach, a Democrat from Ames, says after three years of trying, the bill that’s emerged is a good compromise.
Branstad issued a written statement “applauding” Senate passage of the bill. Branstad said he is “hopeful that the bill will receive support in the Iowa House” and reach his desk for final approval this year.
